Cetacean strandings on the coast of Ceará, north-eastern Brazil (1992–2005)

• Published in: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
• Main Authors: Meirelles, Ana Carolina O., Monteiro-Neto, Cassiano, Martins, Aline M.A., Costa, Alexandra F., Barros, Helen M.D.R., Alves, Maria Danise O.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2009
• Subjects: Balaenoptera acutorostrata; Balaenoptera bonaerensis; Orca; Orcinus orca; Physeter macrocephalus; Sperm whale
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0025315409002215; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0025315409002215

This study reviews and updates information on cetacean strandings in the state of Ceará, Brazil (02°30′S 41°15′W– 04°30′S 36°45′W), comprising 573 km of coastline. In the years 1992–2005, there were 252 cetacean stranding events, representing 19 species: three species of Balaenopteridae, three Physeteridae, two Kogiidae, two Ziphiidae and 11 Delphinidae. Three species comprised the majority (78.9%) of stranding events: estuarine dolphin, Sotalia guianensis (61.9%); sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus (10.3%); and rough-toothed dolphin, Steno bredanensis (6.7%). There was an increasing trend in the number of cases reported in the first five years with a highest frequency achieved in 1996. Stranding events occurred throughout the year, with the lowest frequency occurring in the autumn (March–May). Approximately 4% of the events were attributed to natural causes while 24.6% were human-related, mainly incidental captures. Meat removal for human consumption or bait was recorded in 6.7% of events. In the study area, Sotalia guianensis , P. macrocephalus and Steno bredanensis were the most abundant cetacean species, whereas Lagenodelphis hosei , Pseudorca crassidens , Orcinus orca , Kogia sima , Mesoplodon europaeus , Balaenoptera acutorostrata and Balaenoptera bonaerensis are probably rare in the area.